Ladder step



c. BABITS Aug. 11, 1959 LADDER STEP m. ma W 7 I 7 am yr m m UnitedStates Patent LADDER STEP Carl Babits, St. Clair Shores, Mich.

Application October 25, 1956, Serial No. 618,209

1 Claim. (Cl. 182-228) This invention relates generally to ladder stepsand more particularly to a step unit adapted to be releasably mounted ona conventional ladder.

Rungs on conventional rung-type ladders do not provide a verysatisfactory foot support, especially where prolonged standing on asingle rung is required. Accordingly, the primary object of thisinvention is to provide a step unit which is readily mounted on a ladderat one of the ladder rungs to provide a relatively flat foot supportingsurface.

Another object of this invention is to provide a step unit which issimple and rugged in construction, economical to manufacture and readilyapplied to and removed from a ladder.

Further objects, features and advantages of this inven tion will becomeapparent from a consideration of the following description when taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the step unit of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the step unit of this invention,shown in assembly relation with a portion of a ladder; and

Figs. 3, 4 and are transverse sectional views looking along the lines33, 4-4 and 55, respectively, in Fig. 1.

With reference to the drawing, the step unit of this invention,indicated generally at 10, is illustrated in Fig. 1 as including a flatplate member 11 provided at opposite ends with a pair of upwardly andrearwardly extended arm members 12. The unit is preferably stamped fromsheet metal and is formed in two sections, indicated at 13 and 14, witheach section including an arm member 12. The section 13 includes aportion 16 of the plate member 11 and the section 14 includes a portion17 of the plate member 11.

Each of the plate portions 16 and 17 is formed in two pieces forconserving material, with the two pieces being spot welded together, asindicated at 18 (Fig. 5), adjacent the juncture 19 of a plate portion 16or 7 with the corresponding arm 12. Each plate portion 16 and 17 is alsoprovided with a pair of upwardly bent longitudinally extended stiffenerribs 20. As best appears in Fig. 4, the portion 16 has straightdownwardly projected transverse fianges 21 slidably received incorresponding J- shape flanges 22 on the plate portion 17 to provide fora telescoping connection of the step sections 13 and 14.

Each of the arms 12 terminates at its upper end in a laterally extendedreversely bent hook portion 23, with the hook portions 23 being extendedoutwardly of the unit 10 on opposite sides of the plate member 11. Atits lower end, each of the arms 12 is of a shape to provide an arcuateseat indicated at 24. Each of the arms 12 may, if desired, also beprovided with an outwardly bent stiflener rib 26.

An arcuate strap member 27 is formed integral with and extendeddownwardly and rearwardly from each of 2,899,011 Patented Aug. 11, 1959the plate portions 16 and 17 adjacent the junctures 19 with the arms 12for a purpose to appear later.

In use the step unit 10 is mounted on a rung 31 of a conventional rungtype ladder indicated generally at 32 in Fig. 2, having side rails 33,only one of which is shown. The unit 10 is mounted on the ladder 32 sothat the rung 31 is received between the seats 24 and the retainingstraps 27 with the hooks 23 engaging the back sides 34 of the side rails33. In other words, each seat 24 cooperates with its corresponding strap27 to form a socket for receiving a rung 31 to support the unit 10 onthe rung 31.

In this position of the unit 10, it is self supported on the ladder 32by virtue of the cooperative action of the seats 24, retaining plates 27and hooks 23. When a ladder user stands on the plate member 11, the rung31 acts as a fulcrum, with the user standing on the plate 11 on one sideof the fulcrum and with the hooks 23 engaging the side rails 33 on theopposite side of the fulcrum. The ladder user is thus safely supportedand is provided with a flat foot supporting surface, namely, the platemember 11, to facilitate prolonged support on the rung 31. The hooks 23are initially formed in a predetermined inclined relation with the plate11 such that at a usual inclination of the ladder 32, the plate 11 ishorizontally disposed. In those unusual cases in which the inclinationof the ladder 32 is increased or decreased, the plate 11 is tippedslightly relative to a horizontal plane but such slight tipping does notaifect the function of the unit 10 to provide a flat solid foot support.

The unit 10, by virtue of its formation in two substantially identicalsections 13 and 14 is readily stamped economically from sheet metal.Further, by virtue of its simplified construction, the step unit 10 isreadily applied to and removed from the ladder 32.

Although the invention has been described with respect to a preferredembodiment thereof, it is to be understood that it is not to be solimited, since changes can be made therein which are within the scope ofthe invention as defined by the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A step unit for a ladder having side rails and spaced rungs extendedbetween said rails, said step unit comprising a pair of spaced uprightarm members each of which is provided at the upper end thereof with alaterally extended hook portion engageable with the back side of a rail,a substantially horizontal plate member consisting of a pair oftelescoping portions connected to and extended between the lower ends ofsaid arm members, said arm members being formed with seat portionsadjacent the lower ends thereof adapted to seat on the top side of arung adjacent opposite ends thereof, and arcuate retaining straps formedon said plate member at positions below said seat portions and adjacentthe rear edge of said plate member and adapted to be positic ned below arung for retaining said seat portions in positions seated thereon withsaid plate member extending forwardly from said rung.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,103,603 Voigt Dec. 28, 1937 2,257,863 Schwarz Oct. 7, 1941 2,282,133Horton May 5, 1942 2,488,633 Linder Nov. 22, 1949 2,533,050 Runyon Dec.5, 1950 2,585,150 McGill Feb. 12, 1952 2,726,901 Newman Dec. 13, 19552,805,104 Johnson Sept. 3, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 268,709 Great BritainIan. 11, 1927

